kh....I think I have all that I need out of this thread. Thanks for the suggestion. The weapon is intended for personal carry and the alloy frame means a lot to her in terms of weight.

Missed Jellybean's post at #15.

Sorry for the rehash.

Regards,

Tam 3

Tam....I took your post to be a jab that I should be loading BB's if my wife could not shoot something serious, which of course would be a silly suggestion. I understand now....no hard feelings on this end and I hope you don't harbor any for my snap-back.

Folks....this thread has gone deep enough with plenty of suggestions and good ideas, for which I am appreciative.

I have all that I need and if it continues to drift on over to the island of used-up and deceased threads...that's fine with me.

Thanks to all!

Seems silly and counterproductive to speculate on what's right for the lady. Light loads won't do an effective job at stopping any BG intent on doing harm. Heavy loads will be shunned.

Meanwhile, everyone offers suggestions.

How about getting her into the forum & let her speak for herself? MrsSnubbiefan should be able to articulate HER preferences quite adequately.

Maybe the suggestion of pepperspray isn't all that out of line, after all?

Many years ago, I took my wife to select a pack & frame for backpacking. I got so busy telling the store clerk what I wanted for her, & he me about what she needs, that we both forgot she was even in the room.

After all the discussion, she spoke up and told us that she wanted a different one all together - after all SHE was going to carry it & it was her decision to select what fit her the best.

The first gun my wife ever shot was my Model 10 .38 and she loved it. It might not so much be the gun, but if you make sure it has a very comfortable set of grips like Hogue rubber or Pachmayr which might not look great but work well. As far as light loads, one of the ones that I use is a 158 grain SWC behind 3.8 grains of Winchester 231. Very, very little recoil and easy to shoot.

__________________
Vaya con Dios

Pepperspray? Now that is funny. Anyone that suggests pepperspray for defensive use obviously knows nothing about the stuff. Or, as in the case of the companies that make it and advertise it as such, don't know much about defense against attacks.

I hope that the suggestions for the ultra-light loads purpose was to accustom her to the gun, then to gradually upgrade the charge to something reasonable, and, perhaps something better than reasonable.

My bride has zero interest in this subject, but all 5'5" of her handles a round butted Model 37, 3 inch with "white handles" (that cost more than the gun 28 years ago) just fine.

Regards,

Tam 3

If she is already shooting a .32 S&W why not just get a nice vintage I frame in .32 S&W it will be smaller and lighter than the .327 mag. Trying to craft mouse fart loads for a .38 can be dangerous.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

If the gun is being carried for self defense, one should use factory ammo. Practice with reloads and carry factory. A fairly good round to carry in .38 spl. would be any mid range 148gr wadcutter round. To mimmick that round in a reload, I use 3.1 grs. of 231 under a 148 gr HBWC. This should be quite managable and soft shooting in that airweight.

+1 on that. I can tell you that I have been sitting home and am awaiting surgery from an injury caused by an inmate that was pepper sprayed, three times. He wasn't drunk, he wasn't high, just mad. Last year I peppered a guy about 6' 2 twice and it took 45 seconds or so to kick in. Luckily we could wrestle him into his cell. I have seen it fail miserably on several occasions. Not to mention that here in NY what they sell you commercially is by law a watered down LEO's carry. No thanks, I'll stick to my .38 or .357's on the street and won't recommend pepper to anyone in case of real defense.

__________________
Vaya con Dios

After my wife had sore thumb for a week from her new Ruger LCR .38 and normal kinds of loads of mine, I made up a box with 3.0 gr Solo 1000 and 158 gr SWC, and if I ever get her to go to the range again, I think she will like this. If not I will try 2.6 gr White Lily flour.

Eric....I have already ruined "MrsSnubbiefan". I put a 317 in her hand and that was all she wrote! She thinks it's cute, doesn't weigh enough to notice it her purse and she likes the Diamondwood grips. However....the trigger has been worked and the Wolff reduced pull springs installed and she can put 3 out of 8 in the bullseye from 20-25 feet and the other 5 you can cover with your hand. I know it's not the best choice for SD by a long-shot, but maybe she will enjoy shooting it enough to work her up later.

Thanks again to all.

I would love to take-over the 327 as my carry and load it like it was deigned to be loaded and let her pack the light 38....but I have to find a suitable load that will:

#1. Consistently get the slug clear of the barrel with the potential to do "some" damage.
#2. Come-up with a load in which she can stand the recoil in this light 38 revolver.

No...I refuse to go get her an automatic and she can't take the 22 or 22 MAG TP. Does anybody have any thoughts on a "least-load"? Maybe like 2-grains of Bullseye?[/QUOTE]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I don't like to use Bullseye period. I have a friend that uses it because he can get more ammo to shoot per pound of powder.

Its too easy to double charge Bullseye and not even notice it.

My favorite .38 special load with a 2" Model 37 is 4 ~ 4 1/2 grains of Unique behind a 125 grain copper jacketed hollow point bullet.

The gun is a pleasure to shoot and recoil is almost non-existent.

Try it, you might like it.
augy